He was momentarily taken aback by her response to him. She was acting more like a daughter of Sohalia, rather than one of Ampere. Ominous news delivered to Sohalia was always met with grace and poise, patience and a silent turning of wheels. With Ampere on the other hand … He might have expected a stomp or snort, might have expected her to demand that he get on with it and say what he had to say as quickly as possible. This was clearly not Tae’s reaction, and he wasn’t sure whether this fact should please him, or cause him dismay.

But there was little time for this line of thought just now. She had invited him to continue, and the dun knew that the longer he lingered with the thoughts unspoken, the harder it would be to have them come out.

”Chek….” He began, his voice that of one addressing an equal, rather than a Father speaking to his daughter. Because in this, she was his equal. This was a moral failing he was about to confess, and such things were not appropriate between a father and child. But between a khal and a member of his herd? Certainly. Especially one who had pointedly asked him of it.

Gaucho continued, implying without coming right out and saying it, that Ampere’s disappearance had in fact worried and hurt him more than he had let on. This much he had expected Tae to already have gleaned for herself. Pausing, the dun looked behind them, into the Oasis. It was where he had first met Ampere, and in his minds-eye he could easily see the blue of her feathers glistening in the sun as she bathed. It pained him to verbalized just what it was he had to say.

That his daughter had to offer him encouragement not once, but twice caused a twinge of shame to twist down Gaucho's spine.

”Davra, davra." The dun agreed, flicking his tail impatiently as if was the one who had been waiting, and not the other way around. Gaucho began speaking, slowly at first and then with gradual confidence and his leader-like cadence. He spoke of how he had loved Sohalia first, but how she had disappeared from the lands for one reason or another. It was then that Tae's brother Zero (and unknowingly, Hertz), had been born. Sohalia had returned and Ampere had gone her own way for a time. He explained that he and Ampere had not been together during that first coupling, merely found each other as man and woman might. Tae's large eyes didn't seem startled by this explanation, which Gaucho found mildly comforting. Perhaps she was more mature than she appeared.

Continuing, he explained how Sohalia had left again, and this time a firm pairing had sprung between he and Ampere, resulting in the two of them. His voice drifted off, for this much background information was not necessarily vital to the situation. So switching gears, he clarified that what was important, was that he had equal but non-competing feelings for both mares. And so when he found out that upon Sohalia's most recent re-entry into their borders that she had been unfaithful with another stallion before, Gaucho had been angry.  ”Zhokwa athostar." He punctuated with a grunt, snapping his tail once again at the memory.

Now for the difficult part...

With a sigh, Gaucho continued, detailing (roughly at least) how he had come across Nyx shortly after learning the news from Aleta, and how her electrical magic (so like Ampere's) and the strength of her body had drawn him in. And ultimately, drawn him in in other ways as well.